2023 Front 7 Position Preview

 

2023 Front 7 Preview


LB Darren Anders (photo via Toledo Blade)

Looking back at 2022


2022 was a very up and down year for this defense as a whole. Some games were lights out like WMU, CMU, Miami OH. Other games were TERRIBLE like Buffalo, Kent, Ohio. 


Two incoming transfers last year in Chris Bacon (Georgia State) and DJ Taylor (Wake Forest) along with BG stalwarts Darren Anders had over 70 tackles. Karl Brooks is obviously the biggest name, reaching 50 tackles, 10 sacks and being drafted in the 6th round to the Green Bay Packers. Losing a guy like Karl who has been a Falcon since the Mike Jinks days is a huge loss but as a collective defense we could see an even better year. 

When looking at the front 7, losing DJ Taylor, JB Brown, Walter Haire, and of course Karl Brooks are HUGE losses. Walter and Karl were not only great players, but captains as well. Taylor came in for one year from Wake Forest and was dominant in the middle. 


Departures 


DJ Taylor graduates as does Walter Haire and Bryce Brand. Karl Brooks gets drafted to the NFL. JB Brown transfers to Kansas, Justin Schiets goes to Northern Michigan (D2), Blaine Spires goes to Utah State, and Chase Watton and Brennen Spiess are not listed on the roster anymore. 

Incoming


Coach Loeffler brings in Marquette Harris (JUCO), Chace Davis (UTSA), Davian Mayo (Memphis), Evan Branch-Haynes (Arizona), and Andrew Booker (Maryland) from the transfer portal. Dayln White, Ian van der Merwe, David Afhogo, Jabari Mitchell, and Alijah Williams comes in via the high school ranks. 


Who will start in 2023?


Darren Anders obviously will anchor the front 7 along with Demetrius Hardamon, Brock Horne, Anthony Hawkins and Billie Roberts. These 5 should all see significant playing time and be starters in most of the games. The Front 7 needs more depth than most positions and everyone will need to contribute to make up for the loss of Karl Brooks. Hopefully the transfers will have a positive impact right away and the younger guys can develop and not need to get on the field before they are ready like we have seen in years past. 


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